Device



(No Model.) A 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' J. H. COOK.

VEHICLE CLEANING DEVICE. No. 447,446. Patented Mar. 8,1891.

wt mums VETERS ca, mom-mm msymmuu. n. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. 000K. VEHIGLE CLEANING DEVIGE.

No. ..44'7,446 Patented Mar 3, 1 891.

1" CHAMOIS 1n: "cams FEYERS co, mono-Luna, wasnmemu, n c,

UNITED STATES PATENT ,QFFICE.

JOHN H. COOK, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

VEHICLE-CLEANING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,446,dated March 8, 1891. Application filed March 18, 1889. Serial No. 303,764. (No model.)

To all 207mm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN H. COOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Cleaning Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for cleaning vehicle-wheels; and it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved cleaner in use; Fig. 2, alongitudinal sectional view of the same; Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view showing a modification of the arrangement for securing the cleaning devices proper; Fig. 4, a horizontal sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a top plan view showing a slightly-modified construction and arrangement; Fig. 6, a transverse sectional view of the same, and Figs. 7 and 8 views illustrating further modifications.

A indicates an oblong water-box, which is curved on the arc of a circle, so as to conform to a greater or less degree to the curvature of the wheel, said box being divided by a horizontal partition a into two chambers b and c, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7, the bottom wall of the chamber 0 being provided with perforations, as also shown in said figures. The box or chamber will advisably, though not necessarily, be provided with rollers cl, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6, and 7, which are designed to rest upon the tire of the Wheel and prevent the wear of the plate and to allow the wheel to run as freely as possible, there being one of such rollers at each end of the box.

At its receiving end the box A is provided with a threaded neck or nipple e, which is adapted to' receive or be connected with a hose B or other source of water-supply, the water being diverted into the upper or lower chamber, according to the direction in which the valve C is turned.

Instead of arranging the valve C with its axis vertical, as represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, it may be arranged horizontally or in any other manner desired, provided, however, that it be so constructed as to divert the water into either one of the channels Z; c at will. It will be noticed, upon reference to Fig. 2, that the lower chamber 0 is closed atits end, and consequently all of the water which enters said chamber must pass out through the perforations in the bottom wall thereof. The upper chamber 1) is provided with a threaded nipple f, which is adapted to receive a nozzlev D..

(Shown in Fig. 1.)

The box A is provided with a handle E, which may be cast integral with the box or be made separate therefrom, as preferred; and it will be seen that by taking hold of the handle and turning the cook or valve C, so as to direct the water into the upper chamber 1), the cleaner can be lifted off the wheel and the water discharged through the nozzle D to wash off the body of the vehicle.

F F F F indicate brushes or equivalent cleaning devices, which are arranged parallel with the box A, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8, so as to act against the sides of the rim or felly of the wheel. The cleaning devices F are held in place bymeans of supportingarms G, which, in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are carried in undercut grooves or seats cast in the top of the water-box A. The inner ends of the supporting-arms G are turned upward and connected by means of an adj usting-scre w H, so that the arms may be adjusted closer together or fart-her apart, as desired, to carry the brushes toward or away from the sides of the Wheel. If it is desired to provide for further adjustment of the brushes, the arms will be made in'two parts G G the horizontal part G being slotted to receive a thumb-screw I, carried by the vertical portion G such a construction being shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 5 the arms G are shown as cast integral with the box A and threaded to receive clamping-screws I, which pass through slotted arms G, secured to the cleaning devices F. The cleaning devices represented in this figure are composed of chamoisskin, with suitable backing of wood, which may obviously be substituted for the brushes shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 7.

In Fig. 6 the cleaning devices F are repre sented as composed of a backing of wood and a facing g of rubber, while in Fig. 7 the supporting-arms G may be made also to serve as the axes or shafts of the rollers (l, the cleaning devices being adjustable upon the arms G? to compensate for the wear and for the difi'erent widths of follies.

In Fig. 8 I have shown as a substitute for the cleaning devices represented in the other figures a stick wrapped with cloth, which may be secured to the sides of the box A by means of spring-arms G or in any other convenient manner.

In using this device the wheel is first raised off the ground, so as to turn free, and the box placed upon the tire of the wheel. The wheel is then rotated rapidly and the valve turned so as to admit water into the lower chamber 0, from which it escapes through the perforations in thebot-tom wall thereof. The water runs through the perforations in the bottom of the chamber a and moistens the mud or dirt adhering to the sides of the folly, from which it is removed by means of the brushes or equivalent cleaning devices shown in the drawings, the device being steadied in position by means of the handle.

The brushes or equivalent cleaning devices are so arranged as to be readily removed to allow of the substitution of new cleaners The box A may be made of cast-iron or of any other suitable material. It is obvious that the box need not be curved, and it is also obvious that the perforations need not necessarily be made in the bottom wall of the chamber 0, as it is apparent that they may be made in the side walls of said chamber alone, or in the side walls and the bottom walls both, as in Fig. So, too, it will be ap parent that the cleaning devices need not be applied to both sides of the box, as good results could be secured by applying them to one side only; but such an arrangement necessitates a reversal of the device in order to clean the inner and outer faces of the telly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a device for cleaning vehicle-wheels,

the combination, with a watenbox adapted to rest upon the periphery of a wheel. and provided with perforations, of a cleaning device extending downward from the side of the box in position to clean the side face of the telly, all substantially as shown.

2. In a device for cleaning wheels, the combination, with a perforated box, of cleaning devices applied to the sides of the box and adjustable one in relation to the other, substantially as shown, whereby the space between the cleaning devices may be varied to suit diiierent-sized wheels.

In a device for cleaning wheels, the eon1- bi-nation, with a perforated box provided with laterally-extending arms, of cleaning devices carried by the arms, and means, substantially such as shown, for varying the space between the cleaning devices.

at. In a device for cleaning wheels, the combination, with the box A, provided with perforations in its lowerface, of a cleaning device applied to the side of and adapted to act in conjunction with the box, and rollers secured to the under side of the box, substantially as shown.

In combination with a box A, provided with separated chambers 7) c, the latter closed at one end, a valve C, adapted to direct the water into either of the chambers at will, and

a cleaningdevice applied to the side of the JOHN 1t. COOK. Witnesses:

HORACE A. DODGE, WALTER S. DODGE. 

